Chapter 247: Countdown

“You decide,” said Li Xuemei.

Her husband was better at handling social situations, far more adept than she was.

Yan Lao’er nodded. “Then I’ll bring a bit more with me, and share some with Old Yan’s colleagues.”

“Dad, is the raft ready?” Yan Yu asked.

“It’s good to go. Sanbao even got on it for a bit, and it held steady,” Yan Lao’er said. “Good thing I was there, or Qi Wu would’ve hauled the whole thing ashore. All it took was tying on a few more logs to the sides. I had Luo Da’s family help out in the water.”

It wasn’t just logs. The raft had two layers of planks on top and bottom. Sure, working in the water wasn’t as convenient as on land, but Yan Lao’er’s reasoning had convinced them. The buoyancy would help—they wouldn’t need to lift and carry everything, which would save them some effort.

“When are we leaving?” Yan Yu asked eagerly.

Yan Lao’er thought for a moment. “Once we get back from Crouching Tiger tomorrow, if nothing comes up, we’ll head out in the evening.”

Li Xuemei said, “Can’t even wait one night? Leaving the day after wouldn’t be too late.”

“We can rest on the raft too. Besides, to outsiders, we’re just going out to scout the waterways. No fixed destination. But in truth, we’ve got quite a few places to hit.”

He turned to look at his daughter. “This trip won’t be easy. You’d better be ready to rough it.”

Yan Yu replied with full confidence, “Dad, don’t you know me by now? I’ve got that hardworking, never-give-up spirit running through my veins!”

She realized time was tight and she hadn’t prepared anything yet. That wouldn’t do. She needed to pack the essentials.

“I’m gonna go get my things ready.”

Yan Yu dashed off to the kitchen like a gust of wind.

First, she dragged the charcoal cylinder out from the corner. After a moment’s thought, she grabbed a bag of charcoal too.

Catching fish from the river shouldn’t be hard. She packed some rice, a small jar of pickled vegetables…

Her rummaging in the kitchen drew Granny Rong over to check what was going on.

When she heard Yan Yu was heading out on a long trip via water, she added a bag of sun-dried vegetables to her supplies.

Not long after, she brought over a few more items.

A pair of wool socks, the wool washed clean and carrying a faint scent of scented soap.

Yan Yu curiously slipped her hand inside, feeling the warmth wrap around her fingers.

Sensing something unusual, she turned the socks inside out for a closer look.

She’d thought they were just hand-knit from spun wool, which was already a lot of work.

But to her surprise, there was a bit of cotton mixed into the lining.

These were going to be so warm on her feet!

There was also a pair of gloves, with the fingertips exposed and two small leather patches sewn into the palms.

Yan Yu couldn’t put them down.

Her hands were too delicate. Every time she did chores, they’d get sore and chafed.

Waaah!

Granny Rong is the best!

Back in her room, she found another surprise waiting—this time from her mother.

“Wow! Mom, you made this? That’s amazing!” Yan Yu exclaimed sincerely.

From once selling off all her sewing supplies to avoid needlework, to now making clothes for her family, Li Xuemei had slowly begun to accept this world and the changes it had brought into her life.

“Granny Rong helped cut the fabric. I just did the stitching,” Li Xuemei said with a smile.

Her stitches weren’t exactly fine, but since the garment would be worn inside, no one would see it.

As she sewed, Li Xuemei found herself reflecting deeply.

Stitch by careful stitch before a journey, fearing the return will be long delayed.

Every thread carried her love and concern…

She had sewn a little vest for her daughter. It looked plain on the outside, but inside, it was full of surprises.

“Oh my gosh, it’s full of pockets!” Yan Yu’s eyes widened as she looked from her mother to the vest.

Li Xuemei smiled with her lips pressed together. “You can use them for all your little treasures.”

Before she even finished speaking, Yan Yu was already pulling copper coins from her little backpack and stuffing them into the vest’s inner pockets one by one.

Yan Lao’er: …

“You’re not worried about the weight?” he asked, lifting the vest. Stuffed with coins, it had some heft to it.

Yan Yu happily put it on and spun around to show it off to her parents.

“Nope! It’s perfect,” she said, patting the vest front and back. “Especially this ledger of my Platform transactions. I never feel safe leaving it anywhere. Keeping it close to me is the only way I can relax.”

The largest pocket held her family’s biggest secret.

Her mother must have noticed how much she treasured it, and had made a perfectly sized pocket just for it.

Speaking of Platform, Yan Lao’er tilted his head, thinking. “Dabao, what day is it today? I think…”

Yan Yu’s head snapped up, her mouth slightly open.

Li Xuemei gave her husband a jab in the side, annoyed. Their daughter had already forgotten about it—why bring it up now?

Yan Lao’er’s gaze shifted guiltily. For a second there, his mouth had moved faster than his brain.

Noticing her parents’ reactions, Yan Yu closed her mouth and said quietly, “Dad, Mom, it’s okay. I’m at peace with it now. If I get it, I’m lucky. If I don’t, it’s fate. Besides, Platform only said the time was shortened due to low energy, not that it’s gone forever.

Somewhere out there, someone probably needs it more than we do. It’s fine, really. Compared to other poor souls, we’re doing pretty well.”

She looked so calm and rational, like she truly didn’t mind.

And with her childlike appearance, it made her look even more adorable.

Yan Lao’er couldn’t help pinching her cheek.

Yan Yu blinked in confusion.

Dad, what was that for?

Zzz… zzz…

Yan Yu rubbed her ear, looking around. “Did you guys hear something?”

Both Yan Lao’er and Li Xuemei shook their heads.

“I must’ve imagined it? No sound?” Yan Yu wasn’t sure herself.

Yan Lao’er said, “What sound could there be—”

“Ah!” Yan Yu suddenly leapt up, jumping from the kang bed to the floor.

She startled both Li Xuemei and Yan Lao’er.

What on earth was going on?

“Countdown! Countdown!” Yan Yu shouted like a little maniac, running back and forth across the floor, arms flailing like she was trying to catch something in the air.

“Hahaha! It’s coming, it’s coming, it’s finally here!” The little girl was shaking her head one moment and wagging her tail the next, occasionally punching the air with a couple of spirited “heya!”s.

“Our daughter’s lost it,” Yan Lao’er muttered.

Li Xuemei went from stunned to calm in record time. “Can’t you tell? Platform’s working again. It’ll be back tomorrow night.”

Yan Lao’er clicked his tongue twice. “Weren’t you just preaching about staying calm? Your daughter’s doing a full 180 faster than lightning.”

Li Xuemei raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t she your daughter too? She’s turned into this wild little thing—tell me, whose fault is that?”

“Mine, all mine. I spoiled her rotten, hahaha!” Yan Lao’er didn’t sound the least bit guilty. In fact, he looked rather pleased. “But look at her—so full of life! That’s how young people should be, full of energy and spirit.”

Li Xuemei said nothing.

Honestly, it was probably thanks to that sunshine-all-the-time personality of hers that she could brush everything off and stay cheerful every day.

Sometimes, Li Xuemei thought maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing. Her daughter was smart, always had a plan when trouble came knocking, and if she wanted to be a little loud and rowdy the rest of the time, so what? As long as she was happy, everyone around her was happy too. But still… could she maybe tone down the crazy just a little?

Over on the other side, Yan Yu had already broken into song, excitement bubbling over.

“The sky is like fluffy cotton candy, even if it falls, so what? Even if the rain pours, so what? Might as well dance in it with a smile…”

She sang as she moved, throwing in some not-quite-on-beat dance steps.

Li Xuemei thought to herself, Those wiggly moves are actually kind of cute.

Yan Lao’er had started clapping along, then decided clapping alone was too boring and added some rhythmic slaps to the kang bed, joining in with full enthusiasm.

Li Xuemei: …

(End of chapter)